Just a little something

I haven't done too much crafting lately but I have made this ring for Chloe. It uses the same sieve blank as the Vintage Ring I made for myself, but the request was for purples & pinks.

Hope she likes it !

A bit of an Arty Challenge

During various crafty discussions, the idea of turning other images into tiles popped up and Misty/Hells mentioned she'd like one of her daughters first 'proper' drawings on a tile. The original photo is on her blog here :- http://hells-littlegeckos.blogspot.com/

So, with a bit of fiddling, I photo-shopped the image and enhanced the lines a little to get this image:

Then it was a question of cropping this and doing more Photo Shop trickery to try and turn it into an image that would look good on a tile.

I turned it into a simple black & white line drawing, shrunk it right down and then added blended chalks in pinky/purple to give it a bit of a coloured background.

Here's how it ended up (although it still needs another coat of glaze and a hanging bail).

The photo is not brilliant as it's so hard to see pale colours as the glaze is so reflective - it does look better in real life, I promise!

Another Group & more Ideas!

Well I still can't believe I sold one of my tiles on Folksy!! I only put it up that morning too! Here's hoping the buyer still likes it when it arrives. I've added two more tiles today.

Here's the next batch of tiles :- (the hardest thing is getting a decent photo as they are so shiny!)

The top ones are made from a fabby peachy/pinky paper that has little bits of glitter on it, some black,red & gold flowery paper and....drum roll....you can see - I have tried out a new idea, using mulberry paper.

The one in the top group is finished, the bottom group just need one more coat of glaze but I am rather pleased with the effect.

A few more 'double glazed' (!) Tiles

I've made a few more Scrabble type tiles today. This time I did two coats of glaze to get the tiles more 'domed'.
The middle top one was an experiment - putting one coat of glaze, then a mulberry flower & then adding another coat of glaze. The result (although it doesn't really show in the photo) is the flower seems to float a little above the surface of the tile. I've got some sequin type flowers which I might try next!

I've got a Folksy Shop!

A bit of a spur of the moment decision, but I have decided to give it a go on Folksy
http://www.folksy.com/shops/IzzyWizzyBeads
I still have more stuff to add (& I need to work out how to photo necklaces so that the picture ends up square) but as it's free to sell on there at the moment, what is there to lose!?

Fingers Crossed!

Officially Chuffed!

I had another go with some proper sized scrabble tiles today and here is the result :-

The last two flower ones are photos that I have taken and shrunk to tiny size! I haven't got the bails yet for mounting them but I am quite please with how they have turned out.

My second bit of crafting today was this ring :

It's made using a 18mm sieve blank, glass leaves, acryllic flowers & pearls, seed beads and a Swaro crystal. I've wanted to make this kind of ring for ages and finally bought a lovely sieve blank from www.Nostalgiabeads.com as I came across them at the Haydock bead fair on Sunday.

I am officially CHUFFED :-)

First Attempt at Wooden Tile Pendants

Well here are the results of my first try at making 'Scrabble Tile' inspired pendants. I've just used some scrap patterend paper left over from my card making.

The fairy castle one was inspired by the 'Once Upon A Time' swap which I hadn't signed up for but thought I'd try & do anyway - I have used glitter over the paper for extra 'fairy magic'!

They proved quite tricky to photo because of the glossy nature of the glaze. But I was pleasantly suprised that they look OK! I need to get some bails to secure onto the back, but they are such good fun to make & I recommend ScrabbleGals tutorial!

Worlds Worst Blogger

Well it must be me! I thought it was about time I added something to here. First my prize which was won in a draw of people who voted for the talented Lynn Davy in the Ugly Necklace Competition : http://www.landofodds.com/store/ugly6contest.htm.
There certainly were some truely horrendous designs but unfortunately Lynns was not bad enough to win!

Anyway - she was giving away either something Fabulous or something Fugly. I drew a Fugly - seen in all it's glory here:-

PLEASE NOTE : I DID NOT MAKE THIS !!


There are actually some very nice lampwork beads on there together with some Swarovski crystals - but as for the vomitting duck (blue bead at the end) - well, what can I say!!


I have done a tiny bit of crafting today, inspired by ScrabbleGal on Etsy - I am trying out some wooden tile jewellery. My first three attempts are currently drying.....watch this space as they say!

Bollywood Magic Mystery Bag Challenge

I decided to give another 'Mystery Bag Challenge' a go on the Bead Buddies Forum. This was was called 'Bollywood Magic' and the rules are everyone gets sent the same little bag of beads & stuff & you have to make something using a bit of everything that was in the bag. You are however allowed to add findings.

This is what I got (we didn't have to use the candy necklace that was sent !). A load of tiny seed beads in black, grey, pale yellow, light pink, dark pink, red and turquoise; a patterened large square bead, some round black beads, 6 bells and a rather odd orange 'skittle' bead!

And here is what I came up with - although I think the skittle bead just doesn't go with it all! A tassel necklace and a very jangly memory wire bracelet.

Cupcakes, Candy and Ice Cream!

This was the latest challenge set on the Mumsnet Arts & Crafts Forum:

Cupcakes, Candy and Ice Cream- A Craft Challenge
Who can resist the lure of freshly baked and iced cupcakes, sticky sweet candy, and ice cream melting on a hot summer day? This challenge is to craft something with a cupcake, candy or ice cream theme an essential part of summertime and of childhood. Knit an ice cream cone, paint a cupcake, make a card with candy shapes, create jewellery in candy coloured tones, or create softies in candy coloured fabrics. If you need more inspiration feel free to sit down with a bar of chocolate, or a bowl of ice cream, or a handful of your children’s gummy sweets, essential crafting materials most assuredly. So have fun and try not to get too much of a sugar high.

And here is what I came up with (although it seemed to have taken me forever to get round to making it!!). The beads just remind me of wrapped sweets.

At long last, more photos

Well it's taken me a while but here are the photos of my most recent makes.
First a gold, silver and clear multi-strand necklace. I thought this colour combination looked quite summery.

Then, just as I got organised with the camera, I had a little 'help' from a furry friend. I think she wanted her tea!

When I had fed the furry fiend, I managed to take a pic of this bracelet which is made from big fat grey glass pearls. It's chunky!

Next a series of gemstone bracelets :

Rainbow Fluorite - said to help with innovation, inspiration & co-ordination

Leopardskin Jasper - lovely and speckled - jasper is grounding and repairing

Another Rainbow Fluorite bracelet, but this time with much larger rounder beads, another chunky one! The colours of these beads are much darker and more purple than the previous bracelet.

Then back to small beads - Green Aventurine - said to be stabilising, balancing and promotes tranquility









and finally, Yellow Jade - promotes stability and belonging

I think that will do for now !!

It's been a while!

I just have too much stuff on at the moment, so I have neglected my blog - so here is an attempt to update.

First a picture of a 'chunky turquoise' bracelet for MNs Ranting (sorry about the rubbish photo)

Then a photo of my stall at last weekend Family Fun Day and 'craft' marquee - note the quotes as most of the other jewellery stalls were 'bought in' overseas stuff (grr)

I tried to look vaguely professional - in case you were wondering there are 2 prices of earrings in the bowls + some mobile phone charms in the middle bowl, gemstone bracelets are on the two bracelet stands with various other bits & bobs scattered about. I did OK, covered the stall cost and then some more, so I was happy. There wasn't that much interest in the gemstone stuff which was disappointing, not many even looked at the price tags, so I don't think pricing was an issue. The stuff that did sell was mostly £4 - £5 stuff, although I did sell a £10 necklace. A bit of a confidence knocker really as I really want to concentrate on gemstone stuff, with possible sterling silver & sparkly Swarovski crystals too.....but I'm not sure if it would ever sell?

The funniest bit of the day was two girls who were both trying on a necklace, they ummed & arghed for about 10 mins, passing it back & forth between them. Then they did the same with a bracelet for another 10 minutes, considering various outfits it would or wouldn't go with. In the end they said they would go for a walk round to think about it and come back - they never did! I wouldn't mind if they were spending all that time pondering over a £50 item, but it was £7 they couldn't decide whether to spend or not.....and I thought I was bad!

I've got a few more photos to add of things I made just before the craft fair but I need to unpack the box to take pics. Hopefully I will add those soon.

I've been Tagged!

...By http://vintagekittykat.blogspot.com/2008/05/my-swap-from-gm-tag-and-my-first.html

Here are my answers:-

1) What was I doing 10 years ago:
I'd been married for a year, working in a chemical factory as a H&S person and loving my job. I wasn't doing any crafting then, my son wasn't born so at weekends me & hubby used to go walking and being generally carefree!

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today:
In no particular order :
Sort out some jewellery to take into school tomorrow to see if there is any interest from any of the staff (Will pick out some summery things I think)
Do a mountain of ironing (it is like Everest!!)
Nag hubby until he cuts the grass ;-)
Start a chain maille bracelet in scrummy shades of aqua
Unpack the box from yesterdays craft fair

3) Snacks I enjoy:
M&S Greek marinated Olives, Sun Bite crisps, nuts and Doritos & dips

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
Buy a house in Cornwall (but it must overlook the sea and have a craft annexe), buy a house in Spain (but not in a Brit enclave!), open a jewellery shop, ensure all my family are happy

5) Places I have lived:
I've not strayed far and still live in the area in which I was born, although I have lived in different areas. I bought a house before I was married and then moved to a larger one about 6 years ago.

6) bloggers I want to know more about
I think every one I 'know' in the Blogging world (ie Mumsnet crafters) has been tagged already. I will have a think & get back to you!!


I will also add something about the craft fair / family fun day I did yesterday and hopefully add some pictures of my recent 'creations'!!

A big clear up & some bracelets!

I tidied up all my beads & bits & bobs today and had a good old sort out. Very therapeutic!

I then decided to make a couple of gemstone bracelets :-

This one is made with Peach Moonstone, it looks lovely in real life with subtle flashes of colour in the stones.

I then did a similar one using Tigers Eye nuggets & also made some matching earrings on Sterling silver wires.

I also had fun sorting out seed beads and assorted smaller beads & mixing them into various 'Bead Soup' mixtures where I only had smaller amounts. I am going to use these to make some more multi strand necklaces & maybe a few more tassel necklaces. Watch this space!!

A few bits & bobs

I went to a Charity Ball on Saturday & suddenly realised I didn't have a necklace! So here's what I hastily made from what I had in my Swarovski crystal collection (& I temporarily borrowed the pendant from NBGs Vintage swap pressie!) - it was VERY sparkly!

I have also just made another tassel necklace in my favourite sea foamy colours. This will go in the craft fair pile.

Commission for a Mumsnetter

Here is a bracelet I made for Mumsnetter Ninedragons:-

She had a definite idea to use labradorite, iolite and rainbow moonstone - the photo does not do them justice, the blue flashes in the stones are amazing. I hung the stones almost like a charm bracelet onto a sterling silver bracelet and added some Swarovski crystals for added sparkle. Each stone hangs from a sterling silver wrapped loop (I had aching hands when I'd finished!) and sterling silver jump ring.

I'm really pleased how it's turned out and to be honest, I'll be a bit sad to post it off (I might just have to make myself a variation !!)

Another Crochet Lariat

This time in white with turquoise beads!

Crochet Lariat & a Challenge !

Here is the finished lariat, as per the one in Bead magazine.

I've used lime green seed beads, black thread and some assorted green beads on the bottom.

It seems to hang quite nicely when it's on too.

I really like doing the crochet chains - it's very restful! I'm now pondering my next project/

Here's what I got sent from the Bead Buddies Forum - a mystery bag challenge.

The idea being you buy a mystery pack (everyone gets the same items in the packs) and you make something with it.

You are allowed to add findings, (clasps, earwires pins, threads, wire and crimps) but apart from that, nothing can be added, and you have to try and use at least a little of everything in the pack

It's the first one I have done & I found it a bit daunting. Those seed beads really are luminous hi viz yellow/green !!

The photos haven't been posted yet on the forum but here is my attempt (that necklace really is hideous!). I brick stitched the beads to a piece of beading wire, linked the hoops together to form a chain & filled the wire star with the beads to give it more 'colour'!

I then used the flowers & some of the seed beads to make some 'matching' earrings!

Hmmmmm

OOo I've been Tagged !

I'm a bit of a newbie to all this Blog stuff, but I have been tagged by http://meecrafty.blogspot.com/ for a Meme. Now I did have to look up exactly what this means but I think I have to write a little about Me, so here goes :-

4 Jobs I have had :
Waitress - my first ever employment was as a waitress in our local pub. It was basically supposed to last over the summer holidays but what actually happened was that I got a 'proper' job, so my waitress experience only lasted about a week!
Laboratory Technician - to be honest I only went for the interview for the experience BUT got offered the job. It put me in a bit of a dilemma as I had done 1 year of A levels & was just about to start the 2nd year. The job allowed me to carry on studying so I accepted it. I worked in various departments & various roles within the same chemical company for 'quite a while'!
Health & Safety Manager - still with the same chemical company, I moved into a H&S role and did yet more qualifications. I loved the job and stayed with it up until 2 years ago. The company was restructuring & my role was going to change from a 'people' role to a paper shuffling desk job. So I took redundancy. (personally I think also having a child & wanting flexible working had something to do with it)
Teaching Assistant - so now I come to what I do now, a TA in a Secondary school. Not being one to just sit back, I've done TA qualifications & am just about to start a Dsylexia qualification. I love the job, although some of the kids are 'challenging' (but then so are some of the staff!!)

4 Favourite Films :
4 Weddings & a Funeral
When Harry Met Sally
Life of Brian
Monty Python & The Holy Grail
(chick flicks & silly humour, that's me!)

4 Places I've Been :
Paris - lovely place, snotty people (sorry!)
Barcelona - Wow - loved it all. Hubby deserved a medal for negotiating the traffic!
Ibiza - before it really took off with all the 'clubbing scene'. Away from the mad crowds it's a beautiful place
Granada - can you tell I like Spain? Amazingly friendly people & wonderful scenery

4 Places I've Lived :
I'm afraid I've only lived in the same town all my life (however I have lived in different areas of the town) unlike hubby who has moved about all over the country.

4 Favourite TV shows :
Lost
Heroes
Life on Mars
Any sort of 'house' building / moving abroad programme

4 Favourite Radio programmes :
I am a terrible radio 'flicker' so I rarely ever listen to just one station let alone one programme. Basically general talking & waffle on the radio bores me so I have to turn over to find decent music!

4 Favourite Foods :
Spanish Tapas - especially garlic & chilli prawns
Seafood in general - anything fishy!
Hubbys Sunday Roast dinners (he's such a good cook!)
Minty Chocolate

4 Places I'd Rather Be :
By the sea in Cornwall
Somewhere remote & beautiful in Scotland
Anywhere away from the crowds in Spain
Anywhere with my family (hubby & son)

So that's me - Is everyone still awake ??!!
Right I think I have to tag other people now so it will have to be Dingle
http://www.dillydallydingle.blogspot.com/, Lucykate http://lucykatecrafts.blogspot.com/, VV http://www.maximumrabbitdesigns.blogspot.com/ and I will have to think up another!

Another Multi Strand Necklace

I like making these !

This time one in metallic colours - bronze, copper, teal, grey, black - in fact all sorts of colours

This weeks bits & bobs

I've been making a few basic things this week - some simple Mother of Pearl shell bracelets and matching earrings. A couple using rectangle beads in dark blue and coral pink.


Then a set using green patterned shell oval beads.












I noticed some pale turquoise beads hiding at the bottom of my beady box and decided to make a set of earrings using sterling silver.





In another change of direction, I got round to using some chunky haematite cubes to make this choker style necklace.















Then the sun came out and I found myself making a very sugary sweet fun set using these dinky little square beads. The beads reminded me of Tutti Frutti sweets from 'long ago' !!

Another new technique

After seeing a lariat in BEAD magazine made of crochet - I decided to give it a go, although I didn't have the right type of thread so used embroidery thread instead! Here's how it came out.....

I ended up with one longer piece and a short piece, so I am not quite sure what to do with them next! However I have ordered some cotton thread now so when that arrives, I can give it a proper go.

Here's something else I made this weekend - a black line jasper necklace, bracelet & earrings for a friend to give as a gift. I've not used this shape of bead before and I quite like it as it's so chunky.

When you just go.....WOW !

I had one of those moments today where once you've made something, you step back, look at it and go "Wow - I made that !"

I used the Flower Chain pattern in the 'Beads & Beyond' magazine to make this necklace, which also has lime pearls in it. I am rather chuffed with it, even though I know it's not perfect and it's only silver plated BUT it just looks so nice! My plan now is to do a sterling silver version so watch this space. I am so hooked on chain maille now - but boy does it make your hands ache!

Here's what I made this morning - another shaggy loop dangle, this time in lime green (yes, MORE lime!). I've put it on a plain lime green seed bead necklace but I'm not sure it looks quite right ?

I also used some amethyst pillows that I had left from a friends bracelet, to make another one.

Feeling a Little Green!

I was feeling a little green this morning - mostly due to too much alcohol the night before (!), but also as I bought some rather nice lime freshwater pearls last weekend from Chester.


I strung them with a few lime crystals and some Tibetan silver beads to show off a beautiful focal bead by Anna from the wonderfully named Beads on Toast (http://www.beadsontoast.com/)

Today I also bought a copy of Beads and Beyond and noticed a rather interesting tip on curling beading wire. So I made another multistrand necklace, but this time using curled wire and I think it looks rather nice!

My first bit of Chain Maille

I have been wanting to have a go at this for ages - so here is my first attempt at chain maille.

I made a 'Shaggy Loop' bracelet with a silver plated toggle clasp and as I had beads left over, made a matching 'dangle' to hang on a necklace. I have put it temporarily onto a white gold chain, as I need to get a suitable silver one.

The colours of the seed beads haven't really come out in the photo - they are rather nice garnet lined topaz.

I am definately hooked & now fancy getting maybe some copper rings & trying another pattern! Oops, there goes more money!

Back from Chester Bead Fair

Back with just a small bag of beady lovlies! I raided as many sale baskets as I could find and got a few nice bargains. I splurged a little on some hefty haematite cubes and a lovely strand of acid lime freshwater pearls but mostly just bought small bits & bobs. The nicest thing was meeting a few people from the UK Beaders Forum.
Anyway I came home & started making a Shaggy Loop bracelet with 5mm jump rings & some lovely Miyuki magatamas (that's odd shaped seed beads!). It's about half way done & I hope to get it finished tomorrow.

Todays Creations

Well here is what I have been up to today:

First off a bracelet made with some scrummy cube beads which I've had for ages.

I also made some earrings to match

Then, as I sold one of my tassel necklaces in turquoise this week, I decided to make a similar one.

I also had a big tidy up and sort out, as hopefully I am going to the Chester Bead Fair tomorrow (beady heaven!) - a whole room full of beads and sparkly bits!

I also splurged this week and bought some lovely orphan beads from Anna Richards at Beads on Toast ( http://www.beadsontoast.com/ ). She uses such lovely colours and I have been admiring her beautiful beads for ages, so hopefully I will be able to do them justice.